Meet Carolyn Gravel, a respiratory therapist at the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. She believes that by using an approach that promotes active listening, we can learn a great deal from those whose paths we cross. In her everyday work life, Ms. Gravel’s job brings her the satisfaction of a job well done and the feeling of making a real difference in the lives of her patients.
Ms. Gravel, can you talk to us about your academic background and how you came to be a respiratory therapist?
“I studied at Champlain College Saint-Lambert, where I graduated with a DEC in Social Science with an Accounting option. I then went on to work at Royal Bank of Canada then at CAE (Canadian Aviation Electronics), a company that specializes, among other things, in the manufacturing of flight simulators.
After a few years, I realized that this field did not suit my personality, as I am someone who loves to interact with others. I decided to make a career change and enrolled in the Respiratory and Anaesthesia Technology program at Vanier College.
I had finally found my calling!”
What was your first job in healthcare?
“When I graduated from Vanier College in 2009, I landed a job at St. Mary’s Hospital Centre as a respiratory therapist with the Multidisciplinary Services Directorate. This hospital has since become my second home, even though I’ve been working as a replacement at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute since 2021.”
What are your primary responsibilities?
“At the Douglas, I work closely with an anesthesiologist and assist with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This treatment is mainly aimed patients with severe depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. While the patient is under deep sedation and not breathing on their own, electrodes are placed on their head. An electric current is then sent through the electrodes into the brain to reactivate it. ECT often produces excellent results after several sessions and can greatly improve symptoms of depression.
My work at the Douglas is incredibly rewarding because it exposes me to a very different facet of hospital work. What’s more, I also get to interact more closely with administrative staff, managers and even directors.
In my substantive position at St. Mary’s Hospital Centre, where I still take shifts from time to time, I work in a range of areas including the emergency, intensive care, neonatology, and on the wards. In addition to performing intubations and extubations, I carry out clinical assessments and patient follow-ups, make diagnoses, develop therapeutic procedures and educate patients about certain respiratory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis.
I’m part of a multidisciplinary team that is made up of nurses, physicians and other healthcare professionals. When I’m in the OR, having a close working relationship with the anesthesiologist is crucial. By being in synch, we can anticipate each other’s needs and expectations.”
What are your greatest challenges?
“As is the case across much of the healthcare sector, it’s definitely staff shortages. This can sometimes complicate our work.”
What do you enjoy most about your work?
“You know, as a respiratory therapist, I sometimes encounter individuals whose lives are in danger. By performing procedures such as intubations and placing patients on ventilators, I play a part in helping strengthen their lungs. By working together, my colleagues and I regularly succeed in pulling people out of their predicament. It’s incredibly gratifying to see a patient bounce back and be able to enjoy life!
I also enjoy talking with patients and their families, feeling appreciated and the opportunity to learn from other professionals. Lastly, I am incredibly fortunate to be part of truly incredible teams in both facilities.”
What would you say to someone who is considering a career in your field?
“I would say don’t hesitate! As a respiratory therapist, job security is a sure thing! With our aging population, respiratory diseases are becoming more common and the need for respiratory therapists is already on the rise. It’s also easy to align your career with your interests because there are so many specialities within this field such as pulmonary function, pediatrics, anesthesia, critical care, and teaching to name a few. You can also work in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, private clinics, home care, residential care centres, rehabilitation centres, etc.
Working as a respiratory therapist is incredibly rewarding and involves so much more than ventilator treatments. With ongoing advances in medicine, there are endless learning opportunities. And lastly, active listening, an ability to build trust, empathy, respect for the patient and honesty are all wonderful assets to have when considering a career as a respiratory therapist.”
Ms. Gravel kindly agreed to share some aspects of her personal life with us …
Tell us a little about yourself…
“I spent the first few years of my life in Pointe Saint-Charles before moving to Verdun then to LaSalle. Today, I live in Châteauguay with my husband, my 21-year-old stepson and our dog, Eli.”
To relax, you…
“I enjoy preparing Italian and Greek dishes, but I love baking. I’m best known for my rosemary-lemon shortbread cookies, carrot cake and apple crisp, among others!
I also enjoy walking our dog, which we rescued seven years ago.”
Do you enjoy traveling?
“Absolutely! So far, my favourite country is Greece. It’s incredibly beautiful and the food is so fresh!”
“At the end of each workday, I have a feeling of accomplishment, which is something that’s important to me,” says our featured employee of the month, who completed a bachelor of health science degree at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, while working as a respiratory therapist. She is even thinking about getting a certificate in adult education to help her better impart her knowledge and experience to students doing clinical placements.
“I’m registered with the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec, which allows me to prescribe certain smoking cessation medications. I have the training required to educate people about the benefits of quitting smoking,” explains Ms. Gravel.